What can I do to discourage woodpeckers from attacking my house?
Woodpecker property damage is not limited to the Tehachapi Mountains. Research has been conducted to see which of six common long-term deterrents is effective. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology study results were published in the August 2007 Journal of Wildlife Management. The author, Emily Harding conducted the research in the area around Ithaca, New York.
(Click photos to
view larger image.)
- Life-sized plastic owls with paper wings
- Reflective streamers
- Plastic eyes strung on fishing line
- Roost boxes
- Suet feeders
- A sound system that broadcasts woodpecker distress calls followed by the call of a hawk.
Only the streamers worked with any consistency: the iridescent shiny coating and movement in the wind kept the woodpeckers at bay and completely eliminated damage at half of the 16 test sites. The tape used was Irri-Tape (trade mark) manufactured by Bird-X, Inc., Chicago, IL.
Birds get used to deterrents. They have been observed sitting on top of sound devices as they played as well as the plastic owls. Also woodpeckers were observed working on homes with suet feeders a few feet away.
Homeowners need carefully evaluate any deterrent devices.
It is important to remember that woodpeckers are a native species and protected under the Wildlife Protection Act. It is illegal to kill or capture wildlife.
© Photo by Beryl Stark
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